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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 10, 2003)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ D AN RY ALL JEWEL ★ ★ BOOK MUSIC, VI S D , EOS, CRYSTALS CARDS ★ & GIFTS OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY • 11:11 - 7:11 1374 Willamette ★ 342-8348 ★ 16 yrs. locally owned ★ Free Parking 15% OFF RUBY CHASM Fresh Silver & Amber Jewelry Yoga & Meditation Products Goddess & Buddhist Statues Ethnic Decor Items Scented Candles & Incense Books, Tarot Cards, Journals 152 W 5th @ Charnelton M-Sa 10-6 Sun 12-5 • 344-4074 CAMP Summer Art Camps July 21 - August 22 VISUAL ARTS Youth Camps & Teen Classes Get Creative -Make Friends - Have Fun! Field Trips & Special Guest Artists S CHOLARSHIPS A VAILABLE Maude Kerns Art Center 345-1571 www.mkartcenter.org YouthWorks Summer Outdoor Explorations 3 week non-residential youth programs for 11-13 and 14-15 year-olds Session I: June 23 - July 11 Session II: July 21 -Aug 8 Session III: Aug 11 - Aug 30 A team-based work experience, with outdoor recreation, and environmental education. Call for info: 349-5055 Or Visit our Website: www.nwyouthcorps.org 6 JULY 10, 2003 trol, that’s what. Corporations want control of our food and water. Worst of all, they want to squeeze the poor in the global south for their very lives. Rich white men who have never known a moment’s lack are determined to usurp the food and water autonomy of billions of peo- ple. If that reality is not local enough, then imagine working all week just to afford water to drink. When Coca-Cola owns the water, will it be concerned about the pollu- tants and disease that water contains? June 22, at a panel discussion of USDA, GMO, and Food Sovereignty spokespeo- ple, the GMO proponent stated that corpo- rate control is not a nightmare scenario. The very next day in the streets, the few protest- ers who were brave enough to show up were repeatedly surrounded, ordered to dis- perse and tasered as they tried to walk peacefully away. Most of the protesters that day were very young women. There are pictures and more information at www.biotechimc.org It’s time for everyone to wake up and realize what is at stake here, nothing less than our future as free people or as corporate slaves. Beat back the corporate attack. Melissa Wheeler Cottage Grove FROM CDS TO SPORTS GUIDE Northwest Youth Corps TO THE EDITOR ★ ★ ★ r i i t ua l G r o p S & g n i l ea Welcome Fair G oers! wth H ★ ★ ★ ★ Summer Fun!!! UO Youth Enrichment & TAG Programs LITERATURE CAMP Tracking Sea Dogs & Water Gypsies, active day camp. Two Sessions: July 21-25, grades 3-5 July 28-August 1, grades 5-7 UO SUMMER GAMES Puzzles, interactive games, simulations, and brain teasers for youth grades K-5. Three Weekly Sessions: July 21-25, July 28-August 1, August 4-8 RENEGADE THEATRE CAMPS Explore the art of theatre with UO theatre students. July 21-August 1, grades 9-12, August 4-15, grades 2-5, August 18-29, grades 6-8 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE (541) 346-3084 www.uoyouth.org UNIVERSITY OF OREGON Let’s see. Sony was given land by the city of Springfield on which to build their CD production facility. Sony was given huge tax breaks by Springfield in exchange for providing well-paying jobs for local workers. Sony was provided with infra- structure by the City of Springfield, which allowed the systematic sell-off by Sony of additional free land at a huge profit. Sony closed their CD production facility after eight years, interestingly enough just when their tax breaks ran out. Now, the Sony CD production facility will sit empty unless, and until, a buyer is found. Springfield’s mayor has stated he has no interest in approaching Sony regarding re- couping any of their losses. As a former Sony employee, I have a suggestion that just might create a win/win situation for Sony and Springfield. Since Springfield “paid for” the CD production facility, why not ask Sony to “donate” the building and the land it sits on for use as a sports com- plex? Sony could use the donation as a tax write-off now; it could take forever to find a buyer for the building. The city has been wanting a sports complex for years. The fa- cility already has parking, bathrooms, water fountains, telephone and computer lines, a cafeteria, a kitchen, a locker room with wall lockers, a multi-media room, an outdoor basketball court, a wellness center with workout equipment, showers, aerobics room, security cameras, vast spaces inside that could be used for both volleyball and basketball courts, and even enough land to have an outdoor soccer field. Plus, the site is already beautifully landscaped. I think this would go a long way toward getting the bad taste out of everyone’s mouth regarding the way in which Sony has dealt with the city and the state. As it stands now, Sony has become, and will undoubt- edly remain, just another four-letter word. Ellen Columbo Junction City THE PEOPLE’S PASSIONS Republicans and Democrats; liberal, conservative, red, white or Green. We could spend the balance of our lives debat- ing the pros and cons of these matters, yet they are entirely irrelevant to the concept of democracy. Democracy, after all, is about people. It is that simple. There is no democ- racy without the people, and by definition the people of a democracy are the source of government. Therefore our government should serve only one master, one purpose, one passion — its people. Rep. Dennis Kucinich is the only candi- date I have observed making that truth the driving force of his campaign. He’s not of big business, so we can rule out that tremendous source of corruption. He obvi- ously does not care about personal gain, having sacrificed reelection as Cleveland’s mayor for the sake of principle. Most importantly, when I see him speak, when I read his memoranda, I am con- vinced that this man is passionate about America, passionate about every one of us, and passionate about creating positive changes that will benefit this country and also our world. No other candidate seems to have this passion. It would be wonderful if they all did. However, while we still live in a democracy, it is within our power as the people being served to ensure that our ser- vant is passionate about us. So learn more about him at www.kucinich.us and appreci- ate what he will do for the people. Steve Hukari Eugene THANKS TO LININGER Let me join those who are congratulat- ing Tom Lininger for his work on the Lane County Board of Commisioners. Tom’s record of achievements as a county com- missioner is very impressive. Tom has been a strong advocate of clean water, clean air and sustainability. He’s led the fight to block the construction of a new power plant on Fall Creek. He’s helped to reduce the County’s reliance on pesticides. He worked with his fellow commissioners to pass a resolution in support of acquiring open space at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers. Tom has insisted that the county provide adequate services for rural residents. Thanks in a large part to Tom’s leadership, the board added four new sheriff’s deputies in rural Lane County. Tom also helped to prevent the closure of Lane County’s rural health clinics. He’s secured money for road projects that preserve the safety of our rural roads. In addition, Tom has worked hard to preserve the justice courts in rural Lane County. I have great respect for Tom Lininger’s value, advocacy skills and work ethic. We’ll all miss Tom when he steps down from the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 15. He will continue his public service as a UO law professor. Our loss is the UO’s gain. Peter Sorenson Eugene LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows. Please limit length to 250 words, and submissions to once a month. E-mail to editor@eugeneweekly.com, fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
